I Have eBooks

A while back I bought myself a pre-loved PDA, mainly because it was the cheapest form of eReader I could access and also because a couple of Aussie authors (thanks Paula! thanks Maggie!) had this same model and offered great advice on how to use, download, which reader software, etc. I'm so glad I had their advice because I knew so little and it still wasn't easy sailing. I couldn't get the active-syn between PDA and computer to work for ages and ended up needing a techie's help. Anyway, that's sorted and I've downloaded my first eBooks. Yay! I've arrived in the 21st century, slightly late, but safely. Anyways, I think I'm going to like this. The screen is much easier to read than I expected and I love the backlighting and I love the portability and once I work out the bookmarking and other little doo-dads I'm going to love it even more. Only thing I don't like, so far, is the battery life. I just know I'm going to be mid-chapter and mid-flight Sunday night when the battery warning comes up.

posted by Bronwyn Jameson @ 10:34 PM

Comments:

Hi Bron, you should get rechargeable batteries. We got them for our camera because it used up regular batteries like candy.Especially when we would look at the pictures or do a video. It's saved me a lot of money.

posted by

Dena : 11:57 PM

Bron,

most of the PDAs has to level of brightness for their background lights. I have mine on the lower level to save the battery

posted by

Dannyfiredragon : 3:52 AM

Hey, Danny, I've adjusted mine to a lower level and to turn off when not in use etc. How long do you get out of yours, FWIW? (Thinking about upcoming long plane trips.)

Dena, these are a specialist battery, like a computer...well, they are a mini-computer so that makes sense.

posted by

Bronwyn Jameson : 8:03 AM

Hey Bron, YAY! I have fantasies of an eReader, lol. So cool that you've landed! LOL!

MMWAH!
Dee

posted by

Dee : 2:11 PM

When you are reading your book make sure you save your place and get out of it when your battery gets low. I didn't on one of the ones I was reading and I had to delete it and re-download it. It can really mess it up. Just make sure you are out all files before you turn it off when your batteries are getting low. Just to save you some problems later. I've got the Palm T/X and I love it. I even carry a car charger with mine.
While you are in the airport you can have it plugged into the electric outlet before you board the plane.

posted by

Tam : 11:05 PM

Tam, thanks so much for the tips. Good to know about closing programs when battery gets low. I've had that problem already and froze the thing. Had to do a soft reset but way better to avoid the problem.

Hi Dee. Looking forward to reading your books.

posted by

Bronwyn Jameson : 10:20 AM

Bronwyn,

I don't know which file you have your ebooks on but I have mine on PDF. When I am reading an ebook and am going to put it up for a while I will underline a couple of the words, exit, the PDA will then ask me if I want to save and I will say yes. The next time I get back into that book it will bring me back to that same place. All I do is take the underline back off and start reading again, do the same when I want to stop again. Never loose my place and I have closed out the book too in case if the batteries are low.

posted by

Tam : 11:14 PM

Bron,

I can't say it in hours, but I can read at least a 250 pages ebook in PDF, sometimes even more

posted by

Dannyfiredragon : 2:08 AM

Hi Bron, it's obvious I don't have one or any similair device for ebooks. They sound a bit intimatating to me because I'm not very techo.smart.I wish that I was,there are a lot of ebooks that sound great but the few I have on my computer I don't read because I do enough on it and don't like reading on it.Also there's the expense of one.How much did your device cost? [if you don't mind me asking]

posted by

Dena : 2:11 AM

I put my pda on the recharger when I get the low battery warning and my ebook readers (adobe & mobipocket) open the book always on the page where I stopped reading.

posted by

Dannyfiredragon : 2:15 AM

Danny, I use Mobipocketreader as well. Love how the book instantly opens at the last page, and there's also the bookmarking facility...although I've never used it.

Tam, interesting about being able to mark the document. As an author that scares me a little...or maybe I'm showing my ignorance about what you can do with Adobe.

Dena, I was EXACTLY the same about eBooks in the past. Bought several, never read them on my computer because it's just not my comfortable reading zone. But this is a FUN gadget. And I can read in bed without the light on!

Cost: I bought mine for $AUD300.

posted by

Bronwyn Jameson : 7:44 AM

I have a Toshiba PDA that my DH got for off of Ebay for $84.00 used. I just love it. I am still learning how to download on it. I also have adobereader downloaded on mine plus the mobipocket reader. I like it that it takes you back to the last page you read.
Loretta

posted by

Loretta : 1:41 PM